Skate



P. O. ECKELS May 29, 1934.

SKATE Fild July 27, 1932 2 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR.

R O. ECKELS BY 6 i I W om TTORNEYS P. O. ECKELS May 29, 1934.

SKATE Filed July 27, 1932 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g INVENM.

7. 0. [CK 6L5 A TORNEYS.

Patented May 29, 1934 SKATE Parl 0. Eckels, Cleveland, Ohio, Application July 27, 1932, Serial N0. 625,085

6 Claims.

This invention relates to skates and has special reference to a fioor or street skate.

One important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of skate wherein the floor contacting element is in the form of a highly elastic band extending between supporting rolls at the front and rear of the skate.

A second important object of the invention is to provide such a skate with means for deflecting the lower run of the band downwardly below the remainder so that the skater may turn easily on this downwardly deflected portion.

A third important object of the invention is .to provide a novel skate of this kind wherein those portions of the lower run of the band which lie between the rollers are held raised out of contact with the floor.

A fourth important object of the invention. is to provide novel means for thus raising a certain portion of the band from floor contact, such means also serving as tensioning means for the band.

A fifth important object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of such skate wherein means are provided to prevent friction between the band and the skate frame so as to eliminate undue wear on the band.

.A sixth important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of roller skate having end rollers and an intermediate roller wherein the intermediate roller is out of line with and below the end rollers.

A seventh important object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of roller skate wherein the rollers are held from contact with the sides of the skate frame by anti-friction rollers.

An eighth important object of the invention is to provide an improved form of skate readily convertible so that it may be used both as a roller skate and an ice skate.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and: g

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of the skate.

Figure 2 is a section on ure 1.

the line 2-2 of Fig- Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-, 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing a certain band tensioning means used herewith.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form t I1 1 Q TL Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through a modification of the invention.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on the line u 6- Figure 8 is a section on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a second modification of the invention showing the same used as a roller skate.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail section on the line 1010 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a view of the second modification arranged for use as an ice skate.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs, 1 to 5, there is provided a frame which includes apair of vertically disposed elongated side plates 19. These plates are preferably of skeleton form and are held together at the top by bolts 11. Sole and heel plates, 12 and 13, by which the skate may be attached to a shoe, are fixed to the upper parts of the side plates 10 Through the front and rear lower corner portions of the plates 10 pass bolts 14 on each of which is mounted a sleeve 15 which acts as a spacer to ensure proper spacing of the plates 10. Similarly, a third bolt 16 having a spacer 17 extends through the lower middle parts of said side plates and, as here shown the axis of the bolt 16 is below a line connecting the axes of the bolts 14. On each of these sleeves is mounted a roller 18 which, while it may be a plain cylinder, preferably is in the form of a ball bearing having the usual inner race, balls andouter race. These rollers are preferably of the same diameter so that the lowest peripheral point of the middle roller lies below a line connecting like points of the end rollers. Around these rollers is trained an endless belt or band 19 which is preferably i made of rubber either fabricized or not as desired. This band, as will be seen from Figure 1, has a straight upper run. Supported in the frame between the side plates is a pair of idler rolls 20 which lie between the middle roller 18 and one end roller 18. The band 19 is trained over their rollers so that this portion of the lower run is supported free from ground contact. Between the middle and remaining end rollers 18 is usual manner, the holding cient device ofthe kind purpose specified.

2 a second pair of similar idler rolls 21 but these rolls have journals supported in slots 22 so that the rolls 21 may move toward and from each other and, since the band 19 is trained over these rolls this adjustability permits adjustment of the tension of said band. A spreader 23 is pivoted to each plate 10 and has stepped notches 2a in its ends so that the journal ends of rolls 21, which project through plates 10, may be caused to be selectively engaged in said notches and the rolls be held thereby in adjusted positions.

Large washers or plates 25 are positioned on the spacer sleeves at the sides of the rollers 13 to keep the band from contact with the plates 10 and these washers are in turn held away from said plates 10 by small washers 26.

In the form shown in Figure 5 the construction is substantially the same except that the pair of idlers 20 is eliminated and a single idler 2". substituted therefor. Also idler rolls 28 and side washers 29 are used above the: lower run of the band. 7 I

The skate is used in the same manner as an ice skate and it will be noted that the depression of the lower run at the middle roller 18 permits quick turns to be made without lateral dragging of the front and rear portions of the band.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8 the frame of the skate has a'pair of spaced side members 30 secured in proper spaced relation by bolts 31 whereon are mounted spacing sleeves 32; Between these side frames also extend bolts 33 forming axles for rollers 34 over which is trained an endless tread band 35. In the frame sides '10 are formedpockets 36 which run radially to the bolts 33 and hold anti-friction rollers 3'7 which hold the band from contact with the frame sides and also'prevent its jumping off the'rollersunder the action of side thrust.

In'th'e form shown in Figures 9 to 12 the skate frame has spaced side members 39 held in the bolts being shown at 40. Axle bolts 41 are also provided as in the other forms and when arranged asa roller skate sleeves 42 are mounted on'these bolts and'carry a wheel center 43 on which is mounted arim 44 by bearing balls 45. a tire 46 of rubber or other suitable material. Spacers 47 are fitted on the sleeve toholdjthe wheel properly centered between the 'sides 39. When arranged for ice skating the wheels and sleeves are removed and a skate blade '48 substituted therefor, being held centrally between the sides by spacers 49. Means 50 for securing the skate to a shoe are provided in each instance.

In each instance the ground engaging means has its central portion or element arranged to rest on the ground'while both terminal portions are raised from the ground.

There has thus been provided a simple and effide'scribed and for the It is obvious that minor changes may bemade in the form and construction of the invention withoutdeparting from the material spirit'thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within thescope claimed. Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. Ina skate," a frame having means attachable to a shoe, rollers revolubly mounted in said frame adjacent the endsthereof, "anendless band exnecting like points of tending around said rollers and forming a floor engaging tread at its lower run, a third roller revolubly mounted in said frame between the first rollers and engaging the lower run of the band to deflect the engaged portion below the remainder of the band, and idler rolls mounted in said frame and having the portions of the lower run of the belt between the rollers trained over them whereby to free said portions from contact with the floor.

2. In a skate, a frame having means attachable to a shoe, rollers revolubly mounted in said frame adjacent the ends thereof, an endless band extending around said rollers and forming a floor engaging tread at its lower run, a third roller revolubly mounted in said frame between the first rollers and engaging the lower run of the band to deflect the engaged portion below the remainder of the band, idler rolls mounted in said frame and having the portions of the lower run of the belt between the rollers trained over them whereby to free said portions from contact with the floor, one pair of said idler rolls being adjustably mounted in the frame'for movement toward and fromeach other to adjust the tension of the band, and means to hold said adjustable idler rolls in adjusted position.

3. In a skate, a frame including a'pair of spaced parallel side plates, bolts extending through said side plates at the lower front and rear corners of the plates, spacers on said bolts holding the frames apart, rollers mounted on said sleeves, an endless rubber band carried by said rollers and having its lower run forming a floor engaging tread, a third roller similarly mounted between said plates intermediate the first rollers and having its lowest peripheral point below a line connecting like points of the first rollers, said third roller engaging the lower run of the band to deflect the engaged portion below the front and rear portions 'of'said runs, and idler rolls mounted in said frame and having the portions of "the the plates, spacers on said bolts holding the frames apart, rollers mounted on said sleevesfan endless'rubber band carried by said rollers and having its lower run forming a floor engaging tread, a third roller similarly mounted between said plates intermediate the first rollers and having its lowest peripheral pointbel'ow a line conthe first rollers,'said third roller engaging the lower run of the band 'to deflect the engaged portion below the'front and rear portions of said runs, idler rolls mounted in said frame and having the portions of the lower run of the belt between the rollers trained-over them whereby to free said portions from contact with the'fioor, one pair of said idler rolls being adjustably mounted in the frame for movement toward and from each other to adjust the tension of the band, and means to hold said adjustable idler rolls in adjusted position.

5. In a skate, a frame including a-pair of spaced parallel side plates bolts extending through said side plates at the lower front and rear corners of the plates, spacers on said bolts holding --the frames'apart, rollers mounted on said sleeves, an endless rubber band carried by saidrollers and having its lowerrunforming a floor'e'ngaging tread, a third roller similarly mounted between Ian said plates intermediate the first rollers and having its lowest peripheral point below a line connecting like parts of the first rollers, said third roller engaging the lower run of the band to deflect the engaged portion below the front and rear portions of said runs, idler rolls mounted in said frame and having the portions of the lower run of the belt between the rollers trained over them whereby to free said portions from contact with the floor, one pair of said idler rolls being adjustably mounted in the frame for movement toward and from each other toadjust the tension of the band, means to hold said adjustable idler rolls in adjusted position, washers between said rollers and the frame plates forming flange portions for the rollers to prevent the band from leaving the rollers by the action of side thrust and holding the band from contact with the frame plates.

6. In a skate, a pair of spaced side members, ground engaging means secured between said side members and positioned at the ends and interof the frame, the intermediate PARL O. ECKELS. 

